Most black folk can tell you about their most memorable shopping experience -and I’m not talking about that fly pair of boots they purchased or how much they paid for it – but how they were treated from the moment they set foot inside the store. We are watched with hawk-like eyes by store clerks, yet ignored as if we don’t even exist when looking for assistance. Our money isn’t the same, even if we have plenty of it.
Look at what just happened with Trayon Christion at Barneys New York. He purchased a $350 Salvatore Ferrago belt with his hard-earned money, but was arrested by undercover cops. He was told black people don’t have that kind of money and that he was part of some sort of credit card scam — even after he produced the receipt for the merchandise and his ID.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new under the sun and celebs’ superstar status doesn’t make them immune to racial discrimination. Here’s a look at celebs who’ve been racially profiled while shopping, as well as those who were stopped just for being black period.
Source: WENN
Tyler Perry
After being pulled over for making an illegal left turn, Perry says police officers roughed him up. He says he only made that turn because he was being followed. Perry complained about his experience on his Facebook page. Thank goodness he wasn’t his gun wielding, alter ego Madea, because that situation would have gone from bad to worse real quick.
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Oprah Winfrey
A store clerk at a high-end Swiss boutique named Troix Pommes denied Oprah the right to see a $38,000 designer handbag, telling the media mogul it was way too expensive for her. Oprah said, “She didn’t know I had an American Express Black Card.” You know what they say about people who make assumptions. It’s safe to say they will never again make Oprah’s Favorite Things list.
Source: WENN
President Barack Obama
As a then-Illinois State Senator, Barack Obama expressed the pain and humiliation of being racially profiled. In his book The Audacity of Hope, he talks about security guards “tailing him as he shops in department stores.”
Source: Pinterest
Robert Brown
Recently “Treme” actor Robert Brown spoke out about his experience shopping for a graduation gift for his mom at Macy’s in New York City. After buying a $1,300 Movado watch, he shopped for sunglasses for himself and that’s when an undercover NYPD officer approached him and accused him of committing credit card theft. They arrested him and paraded him around the store in front of other patrons and then took him to a holding cell where they “berated and mocked” him for over an hour. After learning of his celebrity status, they let him go, and tried to clean up their mistake by offering him a ride to his mom’s graduation. A lawsuit was filed this past Wednesday against NYPD and Macy’s Inc.
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Tyson Beckford
Model Tyson Beckford admitted that he always gets followed anytime he shops at Barnry’s Madison Avenue Branch. Beckford spoke out after Trayon Christion spoke about the racial profiling experience he had at Barney’s. He says, “I might have the most recognizable face in the world, but I still get followed all the time any time I go to a store. It’s sad.”
Source: Pinterest
Questlove
Grammy winning Roots drummer Questlove shared that he has been racially profiled between 20-30 times over the course of his life. One of the most humiliating experiences, he said, is the time he was in the car with actress Jurnee Smollett on his way to pick up a gift for his manager. He stopped to make a phone call and was swarmed by police cars. Officers made the two spread eagle on the police cars while they were frisked, and then they had to wait in the back of the squad cars while his vehicle was searched. They were then let them go.
Source: Pinterest
Forest Whittaker
Actor and Academy Award Winner Forest Whittaker stopped at a small New York City deli to grab a bite to eat when he was frisked by one of the workers in front of everyone and accused of stealing snacks. Whittaker was furious over the accusations, and has never received an apology.
Source: WENN
Kelly Price
A United Airlines agent once assumed songstress Kelly Price was flying coach, and rudely asked her to step out of the first-class check in line. Kelly couldn’t wait to out the nasty customer service agent via Twitter, saying “Stephanie at United Airlines is the nastiest agent I’ve ever come across in my life!!”
Source: Pinterest
Lenny Kravitz
Rock star Lenny Kravitz was arrested by police officers on his way to the gym back in 2001. According to the officers, he strongly resembled an at-large bank robber thought to be lurking in the area. Kravitz wrote about his walkin -while-black experience in a song called “Bank Robber Man.” Later, officers apologized for their mistake.
Source: WENN
Wendy Williams
TV host Wendy Williams insists that her celebrity status does not exempt her from being discriminated against. Even though Williams has never been stopped, she’s been followed to the point where she’s had to turn around and say “excuse me!” She claims it’s happened even after the launch of her hit talk show.
Source: Twitter
Don Lemon
Many call Mr. Lemon a hypocritical sourpuss as the famed CNN news anchor is somewhat in favor of the “stop and frisk” policy yet sued over it after being racially profiled. As a local news anchor, he sued Tower Records after purchasing a CD player, claiming he was followed by the security guard to his car, where he was roughed up and accused of shoplifting. Don Lemon’s lawyer called it a case of “shopping while black.”
Source: Pinterest
Eric Holder
The Attorney General has recounted multiple instances where he was pulled over by police officers when he knew he wasn’t speeding. He also recalled an experience of being pulled over after catching a late movie, and to put the icing on the cake, this is when he was serving as federal prosecutor.
Source: Pinterest
Cherie Johnson
On their way to the beach for a quick romantic getaway, actress Cherie Johnson and Dennis White were improperly stopped by police officers. On the drive down, the couple stopped by a cotton field to take pictures. On their way back to their car they noticed a cop car and an officer handcuffed them and fired question after question about drugs and their money before letting them go.
Source: Pinterest
The Game
The West Coast rapper was asked to leave a Houston’s restaurant in Pasadena, California by manager Vy Diep, saying that his tattoos were unnerving and threatening the other patrons. The game has launched a social media campaign, putting the store and manager on full blast via twitter for discriminating against him because of the color of his skin.
Source: Pinterest
Danny Glover
In 1999, the “Lethal Weapon” star got fed up with being bypassed by cab drivers because of the color of his skin so he filed a formal complaint against the Taxi and Limousine Commission for racial discrimination of people of color.
